HealeyMills

Hi Grumps, Your build is looking superb. I still have no idea what it is but it does look great and you are making (yet again) the construction seem very easy. Thanks for the updates is great to see these locos being built. Cheers Lee

Hi Cav, That's a great technique you have for weathering Thank you for sharing your method of weathering and for spending the time to type that long message. Cheers Lee

Hi Cav, Your weathered version looks superb and when compared like for like with the new Dapol version is streets ahead!! I'd use your own ballast to be honest, the factory made load just looks wrong... wrong texture, wrong particle size. Would you be able to give us a bit more information as to how you weathered the Grampus? Cheers Lee

Hi George, What a great thread, I'm watching with interest. Which primer do you use for your wagons? ... and just out of interest, do you spray the primer with the wheels in-situ or do you remove them and add them at the end of the build/ painting? Cheers Lee

Hi Chaz, That sounds like an ideal plan to me. I guess you have used the combination of Kleer and Dullcote before so know that they work well together? Your build looks excellent and you always seem to make them look so easy to construct. I was hovering over purchasing one of these vans the other day myself but then when I saw the differing brake options I became a little lost for something that might have been around in 1980's, perhaps for a barrier vehicle or something like that. More research I guess. Please keep up with the updates its great to watch you building these. Cheers Lee

Hi Steve, I should have been more specific... it is the masking of the grey area that puts me off.... how on earth do you get it to exactly the right size/ dimensions for the Railtech lining? Those white transfers/ lines are only a few mm thick so there's no room for error. You make it look so easy!! Cheers Lee

Hi Spenc, It looks like you've got your hands full with coach builds now I'm watching with interest as I'd quite like to have a go at the Easybuild 122 and perhaps the JLTRT CCT too. The only thing that puts me off is spraying the paint scheme on the blue/ grey stock.... I'm struggling with blue and yellow ends on locos let alone anything as complex as you've done! Please keep up with the up dates. Cheers Lee

Hi Rod, I'm sorry to hear about the constant split gear problems that you're encountering, hopefully they won't occur anymore now. Is it only the Heljian class 37 that you have had these problems with? I have been following this thread for sometime now and admire your work here. I do hope that you will post some of your JLTRT class 25 build as I enjoy watching these being built as much as I do building them. Many thanks Cheers Lee

Hi David, Wow, the completed build looks superb. Did the brake rigging come along with a full set of instructions? Looking forward to seeing you paint/ spray this and if you could give us plenty of photos of that process it would be a real bonus too. Thank you for sharing this build. Regards Lee

Hi Grumps, That is looking magnificent. But with regards to buying lots of them to build.... I'm beginning to think you are displaying some severe masochistic tendencies!!! These kits look so difficult to build but once done are a real testament to your skill. I'd love to have one of these but there is absolutely no way would I ever complete it. Cheers Lee

Hi Chris, Thank you for that, I thought it was the JLTRT class 40 as it had the frost grilles. I did not know that the Heljian loco had these. It looks fantastic and the weathering is superb.... I particularly like the rush patches on the bogie side frames. Cheers Lee

Gilbert, Your class 40 is staggeringly good!! Which gearboxes have you used? Cheers Lee

Good grief they sound good!!!!!

Hi Grumps, You've made some great progress and I sit in awe of what you have achieved with this model.. Outstanding!! I'm sorry to hear about the root canal surgery but on the grand scheme of things it's nothing compared to what some have to undertake and you will feel much better afterwards. At least you now have an idea why you have felt so horrid... and there's a cure!! Cheers Lee

Hi Simon, I have been keeping an eye on your work, just not commenting (which is very poor!!rude of me). It's great to see Dallam coming to life and each day now seems to make a big change. I'm sure once the foliage goes down it will change enormously again, Keep up with the good work and please don't stop posting updates as they are always great to see. Cheers Lee

Hi Jeremy, You work is looking superb and I don't think anyone can question your commitment with this project... perhaps your sanity but never your commitment How much more track do you have to build before it's all done? Good luck with the remaining track work Cheers Lee

oh my goodness, these kits are really involved and detailed. I had no idea they were so exact! Good luck Cheers Lee

Hi Grumps, It's good to see you going full steam ahead again. The hopper is looking superb and I guess you cannot be too far away from finishing this project now? Cheers Lee

Ah whistlers on the North Wales coast... those were the days Great pics Peter, especially the third one.... it looks so real!! Cheers Lee

Ah ok.... sorry I'm a real philistine when it comes to anything steam driven, which, given the amount of time I have spent on preserved railways one would at least think I had absorbed some information, even if only by osmosis alone!! I guess I am not a rail enthusiast but more a diesel (and electric) loco enthusiast. I think I may know what a black 5 is.... that's my lot I'm afraid Cheers Lee

Hi Grumps, That sounds like a great idea, if you're not feeling too good give the Dogfish a miss until you're feeling better (no idea what a 9F is though ). Hope you feel better soon. Cheers Lee

Hello Grumps, Thank you for posting your last installment. Whether it is good, bad or indifferent it is great for us (like me, that could never even attempt anything like this that you are building) see it warts and all. Well I guess I could attempt it but I would have given up on day one I think. These kits seem quite testing and I guess each stage you learn a new skill and become a better modeller for it. I'm looking forward to many more updates on this project because I know you will finish it and more over it will be to your high standards and quality. I think Enterprising Western hit the nail on the head, so keep going we're with you all the way!!! oh yes before I forget, thank you for your explanation of annealing..... most helpful. Cheers Lee

Hi Cav, It seems you've made a lot of great progress lately. It's as though you've gone into overdrive. All great work though and starting to bring the layout to life, Cheers Lee

Hi Grumps, It looks like you had quite a late finish judging by the time you posted your last message. Really enjoying the work to date... I find it absolutely fascinating watching you build these 'metal' kits. One question (and probably a very novice question too) if I may... what is annealing? Cheers Lee

Hi BrushType4, Please could you tell me the overall foot print dimensions of your Westbury type shed? Many thanks in advance Regards Lee